A Werewolf, A Vampire, and A Fae Walk Into A Bar (Book 1 of The Last Witch Series) novel Chapter 13

It’s not an exaggeration to say that having a gun pointed at you and your newborn child is one of the most terrifying things that can happen to a person.

But my terror is short lived.

As short lived as that asshole’s life in my apartment.

Several things happen at once, and I only have time to step back and tighten my arms around my irate child as a scene straight out of a horror movie unfolds before me.

First, Zev’s body shifts from man to wolf in one astounding moment. It’s like a controlled burst of energy--he takes in a breath, then his features and limbs transform in a smooth, exotic motion, his bones reshaping as white fur grows over skin. He lands gracefully on all fours, majestic and intimidating. I’ve seen a couple wolves in my life, and Zev’s at least twice as big as any of them.

Before I can even unpack that transition, Darius moves with lightning speed, disarming John just as the gun goes off, blowing a hole in my ceiling and traumatizing my eardrums.

Next, Zev leaps into the fray, his claws digging into John’s chest and tearing through flesh, muscle and bone like the bastard is made of butter.

And finally, Darius’s teeth sharpen into knives, and he twists John’s neck to the side, sinking his fangs into John’s pulsing vein.

I don’t know what kills him. The wolf mauling or the vampire draining, but within seconds, his lifeless form is dropped to my floor like a bag of flour.

The thunk he makes is slightly wet, like a splat, and I swallow back vomit and shield Rain’s eyes from the gore, even though I know she technically can’t see that far yet.

“What the f--” I can’t even finish my thoughts before Rune appears, his body blocking what remains of the door frame as his sharp blue eyes take in the scene.

Darius glances at him. “There was a situation,” he says before looking down at the body and then back to Rune. “It’s been resolved.”

I nearly choke on his casual tone.

Rune nods. “Good. AJ is in the bar. You might need to…”

Darius nods. “Understood.” He disappears downstairs, while Zev remains a wolf, sitting by the door like a guard dog.

“And the child?” Rune locks his gaze with mine, and in four long strides is by my side, assessing both Rain and me. “You are shaking. It’s shock. Come.”

He guides me out of the living room and into my bedroom, then sits me on the bed and gently removes the screaming child from my arms. “She is hungry but safe.” He looks at me with more compassion than I’ve ever seen from any of them. “If you cannot feed her, I can make her a formula that will satisfy.”

My mind is having trouble translating sound to words, but it clicks into place when he starts to leave with her.

“No. Give her to me. I can do it.”

He nods and hands Rain back, and without regard for modesty--as that ship has long since sailed--I pull out a breast and let my baby latch on.

Rune watches, his eyes mostly locked on Rain, I’m sure to confirm she’s okay after everything that transpired. Still, his eyes spend a little more time on me than they have in the past. His gaze trails over my naked breast, then along my neck and up to my eyes. A hint of modesty creeps back into my psyche, as I realize how disheveled and generally disgusting I must look. I know I certainly feel beyond gross after a day of work, childbirth, intermittent sleep and no bathing.

I break eye contact before he does, checking on Rain to make sure she’s drinking all right. She’s chugging away, blissfully unaware of everything. I wonder how old she’ll be when I can finally tell her the story of her birth. Right now, it seems like it would be too traumatic at any age. I smile to myself as I think of getting a picture of the three Sexies holding Rain, each looking deathly serious, to put in her baby book. Then I laugh out loud when I imagine Darius not showing up in the picture--if that adage about vampires is true.